How to Calculate the Number of Moles in a Given Mass of Phosphoric Acid

What is the molecular formula for phosphoric acid and how can we calculate the number of moles in a given mass of phosphoric acid? The molecular formula for phosphoric acid is H3PO4 and it has a molar mass of 97.994 grams per mol. To calculate the number of moles in a given mass of phosphoric acid, we need to use the formula Number of moles = mass / molar mass.

Molecular Formula of Phosphoric Acid

Phosphoric acid is a mineral acid with the chemical formula H3PO4. It is also known as orthophosphoric acid and is a weak acid. The molecular formula indicates the types and numbers of atoms in a molecule.

Calculating the Number of Moles

To calculate the number of moles in a given mass of phosphoric acid, we first need to determine the molar mass of H3PO4, which is 97.994 grams per mol. Then, we use the formula:

Number of moles = mass / molar mass

Example Calculation

For example, let's calculate the number of moles in a sample of 658 grams of phosphoric acid:

Number of moles = 658 g / 97.994 g/mol

Number of moles = 6.71 mol

Therefore, in a sample of 658 grams of phosphoric acid, there are approximately 6.71 moles of phosphoric acid.

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